In a twist that would make even Team Rocket gasp, Pokémon cards have muscled their way to the forefront of the grading world in 2025, leaving sports cards in their wake. The latest data from GemRate reveals that Pokémon cards now dominate third-party grading submissions, with an overwhelming presence that spells trouble for sports card enthusiasts.
The numbers speak for themselves: a staggering 97 out of the top 100 most-graded cards at PSA, one of the leading card authentication companies, are from the Pokémon franchise. Breaking it down further, TCG and non-sports cards are responsible for a whopping 59% of all graded submissions across the four major authenticators during the first half of 2025. It seems that Charizard and friends have become the new MVPs in the world of card collecting.
A grand total of 7.2 million TCG and non-sports cards were graded between January and June, showcasing a 70% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, sports card submissions came in at 5.1 million, reflecting a 9% decline over the same period. These figures clearly illustrate the paradigm shift towards the colorful, creature-laden world of Pokémon.
Leading the charge is the Japanese Iono’s Wattrel Battle Partners Promo No. 232, which takes the throne as the most graded single card of the year with over 45,600 copies submitted. However, Pikachu, the franchise’s cheeky mascot, remains the franchise’s prodigious representative, with over 345,000 graded examples surfacing in 2025 alone. Particularly notable is the “Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat” card, a result of a collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum. With nearly 84,000 graded copies, it has become PSA’s most-submitted Pokémon card ever. Interestingly, despite its high availability, a perfect PSA 10 example of this card has fetched over $900 in recent sales.
In stark contrast, sports cards could only manage to infiltrate three spots in PSA’s top 100 submissions. These include the 2024 Panini Prizm Jayden Daniels rookie card, the 2024 Panini Instant Caitlin Clark WNBA ROY card, and another Jayden Daniels card from Donruss. Their submissions ranged between 8,800 and 10,500—numbers that pale in comparison to their TCG counterparts.
June’s submission stats reinforced Pokémon’s dominance in the grading world. TCG and non-sports cards accounted for 63% of submissions, with PSA grading a sweeping 911,000 cards in this category alone. This figure outpaced the cumulative sports card total of 743,000 across all major grading entities.
Among grading companies, CGC Cards has capitalized significantly on the Pokémon craze. This company alone has graded 2.18 million cards in 2025, nearly equaling its entire output from the previous year. Of these, an impressive 1.8 million-plus were TCG or non-sports. Meanwhile, Beckett, another significant player in the industry, has seen its card grading volume plummet, now ranking fourth among the major graders. Of the 366,000 cards Beckett has graded, approximately 214,000 were tied to Pokémon or TCG-related endeavors.
PSA’s wild ride can also be linked to its ongoing partnership with GameStop. Since the collaboration’s inception in October, this partnership has resulted in more than 1 million grading submissions. This surge has been instrumental in powering the card grading boom.
The record-shattering popularity of Pokémon cards is mirrored in retail environments, where they are flying off shelves faster than you can say “Pika Pika.” Sellouts, overwhelming demand, and consumer restrictions are now commonplace in stores across the globe. Despite the feverish frenzy, the end is nowhere in sight for Pokémon’s stranglehold on the hobby. Pokemon’s legacy of alternating the event horizon of mainstream and niche popularity alike seems cemented, ensuring its relevance for years to come.
In a year filled with surprises, the rise of Pokémon as the undisputed behemoth of the grading industry proves that this franchise, like its tireless trainers, never stops evolving. As sports cards are left to lick their wounds, the Pokémon juggernaut rolls on, captivating collectors both young and young at heart by continuing to break new ground while remaining true to its roots. With collectors and companies alike continuing to bask in the glow of this card renaissance, the world simply cannot get enough of Pokémon.
